When the Xbox One was unveiled this week, Microsoft made it abundantly clear that this was not the Xbox we were used to. The original Xbox, and even the Xbox 360, were designed to be primarily, if not exclusively, game platforms. The Xbox One is designed to offer a connected, living-room entertainment experience. The Xbox 360 now serves as the primary streaming video device for many gamers, whether it's on Netflix or HBO Go. Microsoft wants to keep those streams going and also control the hours people spend watching live TV. The Xbox One won't just be for gamers; it will be for anyone that wants a state-of-the-art entertainment experience. There is a lot in the Xbox One that is annoying to gamers, but there is even more that mainstream users will love.

One thing to remember is that the Xbox one is still five, maybe even six months away from shipping. Although the hardware and overall functionality won't change much, there are a lot of little details that could change before then. And it is a lot of these details that are most concerning to gamers.

A lot has been written about always-on. At this point, it seems like you will be able to play single-player games without an active connection to the Internet. However, you must have an Internet connection in order to set up the Xbox One. You must regularly connect to the Internet to authenticate your account; one executive suggested this connection may be required daily. Clearly, an Internet connection isn't exactly optional. More concerning is the idea that used or traded games will only run if you pay an additional fee to Microsoft.

If you want to use the Xbox One, you have to use the Kinect. According to Polygon, it will always be listening. You can't disconnect it. You can't turn it off. It can't be bargained with. It can't be reasoned with. It doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And if you use your Xbox One for watching TV, it will be watching you whenever you're in your living room.

OK, so that is a little creepy. After all, people still tape over the webcams on their laptops because their AIM accounts *might* get hacked. What if that happens to your Kinect? The thing can read your heartbeat.

To my mind, this is easily solved with preferences and good security. And having an always-on sensor in your living room could be a good thing. Imagine the home security implications, complete with motion sensors. Or a nanny cam. Again, this is the division between hardcore gamers, who mainly want better graphics performance, and mainstream users that want more features.

We will get a better idea of what kind of gaming device the Xbox One is at E3 in a few weeks. With any luck, we will see more actual demos and be able to gauge the gameplay by more than just killer cut scenes. But even more importantly, we will start to see how Microsoft is going to pull off the enhanced television experience. Will you really be able to watch your fantasy players at the same time you watch an NFL game? Will third parties be able to create their own interactive apps designed to run alongside live TV? Will the voice recognition work, or are you going to bring the most frustrating parts of Siri into your living room? Perhaps most importantly, is the average user going to be able to connect and configure the Xbox One alongside his or her existing cable box, media streamer, and DVR setup?

None of those things really matters to gamers but to the Xbox One's new primary audience (i.e. everyone else), the answers will make all the difference.

Dan Costa is the Editor-in-Chief of PCMag.com and the Senior Vice President of Content for Ziff-Davis. He oversees the editorial operations for PCMag.com, Geek.com, ExtremeTech.com as well as PCMag's network of blogs, including AppScout and SecurityWatch. Dan makes frequent appearances on local, national, and international news programs, including CNN, MSNBC, FOX, ABC, and NBC where he shares his perspective on a variety of technology trends.
Dan began working at PC Magazine in 2005 as a senior editor, covering consumer electronics, blogging on Gearlog.com, and serving as...
More »